Jessica Michele Shults was born in Miami. She began her training with Ruth Weisen and Thomas Armour at the Miami Conservatory, where she performed with both the Miami Conservatory Junior Company and the Miami Ballet. She became a scholarship student with the Miami City Ballet School in its inaugural year, where she performed leading roles in the school’s annual workshop performances. Her summers were spent studying as a scholarship student at both the School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre in New York City.

She attended high school at the New World School of the Arts, and at 16 was invited to join the Miami City Ballet Company. In subsequent years, she danced in both soloist and corps roles in much of the company's repertoire. In 2003 and 2004, Jessica joined Miami Contemporary Dance Company for the Company's 1 to 5 and Tango Undressed productions. Ms. Shults left Miami City Ballet at the end of the 2005 season and is thrilled to be working with Miami Contemporary Dance Company once again.